Japanese golfer Jumbo Ozaki is nicknamed the ‘Yen Collector’ due to his preference to play solely on the Japanese tour?

Japan’s first prime minister – Ito Hirobumi – once attempted to burn down the early British Legation buildings? He failed.

Van Gogh once considered becoming an ukiyo-e (woodblock print) dealer?

On the lookout for antiques in the heart of ultra-modern Tokyo? Perhaps a nice Japanese souvenir for the folks back home who might not appreciate one of Condomania’s offerings?

Then look no further than Oriental Bazaar – Omotesando’s very best gift shop for souvenirs Japanese bar none.

Sat on the left of Omotesando when walking towards Meiji Jingu from the Aoyama-dori crossing above Omotesando Subway Station (Chiyoda, Ginza, Hanzomon lines), Oriental Bazaar(OB) with its bright red façade is hard to miss.

A literal stone’s throw from the famous Shakey’s Pizza, and across the wide, tree-lined avenue from Omotesando Hills, OB caters to all tastes, has multilingual staff ready to help explain any item and is open 10:00-19:00, six days a week – closed Thursdays.

Essentially a two floored affair with a huge range of genuine 1868-1912 Meiji-era antiques sat alongside some of the more interesting, if slightly kitsch offerings such as T-shirts of Tokyo Tower, decorated fans and chopsticks and even samurai related regalia, OB is one of the shops along Omotesando that should not be missed by those here for a limited time.

Much of the rest along Japan’s answer to the Champs D’Elysees can be visually enjoyed, the prices gaped at and the lack of customers pondered over, but OB is the true one stop shop for anyone after a souvenir to remind them of their time in Japan – and can accommodate any size of wallet!

Get there, get shopping, get sorted.

Been there, seen it, done it you may think? Perhaps you have, but that is a comment that really can never be true unless you have walked the length of Harajuku’s Takeshita-dori – both ways – and lived to tell the tale.

In more ways than one, Takeshita-dori is Tokyo’s teen heaven – and by teen that means Teen with a capital T.

Any older than about 18 here in Tokyo’s equivalent of a million European and American street corners, minus the wealth of zany shops, and you will be looked upon as a thing of the past, a relic to be put away in a museum.

That said, as close to the grave as your DOB may place you, Takeshita is more than worth running the gauntlet of a thousand stares by the capitals rebellious, primarily female youth.

Shops full of the latest teen (read: girly) fashions – and there is more than enough weird stuff to go around here – as well as gimmick-cum-accessory outlets peddling oddities you will never use, and never see again are everywhere; think a single grain of rice with your name written lengthways using a laser!

Crepe shops galore, Viking sets (an all you can eat concept in Japanese) and far too many cramped little places selling idol / pop star pics, key rings and the like can leave the uninitiated dizzy.

Fear not, the return trip will reveal more of the same and could well lead to a burst blood vessel if you take it all too seriously, but as with so much else in Japan, no space is left unused, so just when you think you have seen everything there is to see – glance upwards at the second floor rooms of so many of the buildings. Guess what! More of the same – much, much more!

Blood vessel throbbing yet?

Well, fear no more – for nowhere else in Japan is there a more famous shop aimed at kitting you out in all your protected glory than Condomania.

Sat proudly erect on the corner of Omotesando and Meiji-dori on the run up to Meiji Shrine, the brightly coloured ‘skin shop’ is nothing if not open about the reason for its existence.

Selling man’s best friend in a range of sizes, colours, textures and even flavors, as well as more lotions, toys, creams and sprays than you could shake the proverbial stick at, this relatively small outlet is nothing if not noticeable – and it is never empty!

Interestingly, purchases don’t seem to take place that often though – the embarrassment factor likely responsible for that step too far, but customers, like the contents, come in all shapes, sizes, colours and, presumably flavors!

For those in the market for a purchase, but for whom the publicity might prove a tad off-putting, the shop does have a great online page; albeit in Japanese.

Listing, and with pictures of everything in stock, the page not only explains the items the punters are offered, but also takes online orders should the ladies behind the counter prove too much.

Add to this a page showing the latest rankings of items sold – at time of typing the ‘Ultra Large’ version topping the bill, with ‘Choco Magic’ trailing down in fourth! – and if nothing else, a trip to this colourful corner of Meiji-dori and Omotesando should stay long in the memory banks.

Get along, get equipped, and get back on the job.

Link: http://condomania.jp/

Situated prominently atop one of the side streets off Omotesando is an advertising board of sorts.

Smack bang middle in the centre is the fashion brand name Fcuk You.

Now, not being much of a fashion king myself, that certainly gave me something of a shock when I first saw it!

That was, until I realized that Omotesando is about shock, it is about people being noticed, yet it is about so much more than the main drag.

Given, the top dogs advertise for all they are worth on the main Omotesando approach to Meiji Jingu, but it is behind the main thoroughfare that the real action can be seen. This is where the locals live, where the smaller restaurants and bars – as well as numerous boutiques – position themselves to carry off some of the more discerning shoppers less bent on brand collection.

Pick a (side) street next time you are on Omotesando then, any street will do. Take a walk down it and lose yourself in the maze of turnings beckoning you deeper and deeper into the inner recesses of on of Japan’s well known but less crowded gems; the backstreets of Omotesando.

Head down towards Shibuya or up towards Gaienmae – by first going under the Fcuk You sign and kick back a tad. The pace is slower. The onus is less on being seen, and more on the self.

Step into a café, order the house white or whatever else you fancy, and get as close to any suave European capital as it is possible to get here in Tokyo.

Fcuk you indeed!

keep checking back for updates on new events throughout the current month

Culture / Festivals

October is a rather quiet month, with many heading to the hills near Tokyo to do some early autumn hiking. The one very interesting festival of the month, however, is listed below.

Ikegami Honmonji O Eshiki

Oct 11th~13th Ikegami Honmon-ji Temple (Ota-ku, South Tokyo)

Museums

Mori Art Museum – (Roppongi)

Thru Nov 3rd – Annette Messager – The Messengers

The National Museum of Modern Art – (Takebashi)

Thru Oct 13th – A Perspective on Contemporary Art 6:
Emotional Drawing // Between the Wall and the Ground

Bridgestone Museum of Art (Tokyo)

Thru Oct 19th – From impressionism to Abstract Paintings

Tokyo National Museum (Ueno)

Thru November 30th – Cultural Treasures of Sri Lanka

Stage

Kabuki  - Kabuki-za (Ginza)

2 - 26 October 2008

Several matinee and evening shows will be performed around the nation – the most prominent in Tokyo at the Kabuki-za in Higashi Ginza.

Shows include

Fuji Musume – the famed dance of a young maiden around a wisteria tree – the same play performed by Ichikawa Ebizo in Paris in early 2007.
Other famous names include; Bando Tamasaburo, Onoe Kikugoro, Nakamura Shikan, and Ichikawa Sadanji

Sport

Football

4th – (Todoroki Stadium) Kawasaki VS Oita Trinita
4th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Shimizu S. Pulse
18th – (Saitama Stadium) Urawa Reds VS Kobe
18th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) Tokyo Verdy VS Omiya
19th – (Nissan Stadium) Yokohama F Marinos VS Nagoya Grampus
25th – (Ajinomoto Stadium) FC Tokyo VS Kashima Antlers
25th – (Kashiwa Stadium) Kashiwa Reysol VS Yokohama F Marinos
26th – (Todoroki Stadium) Kawasaki VS Sapporo

Baseball – (various stadiums)

Japanese Central (Swallows / Giants / Baystars) and Pacific League (Marines / Lions) baseball games are now coming to a close – the season ending Japan Series to be determined by teams not yet decided. Keep an eye on the domestic English language newspapers for the most up to date information and check English language Japanese media listings for exact game schedules.

•    tickets for all of the above events / sports and theatrical performances can be obtained from convenience stores and / or recognized ticket agencies.

The entire Japanese language is made up of 101 syllables?